Drapery pleat construction



July 21, 1953 A. M. FREEMAN DRAPERY PLEAT CbNSTRUCTION Filed June 19, 1950 FIG.2

INVENTOR AUCE M FREEMAN gwwwk a A'TT'ORIVEY wise. The blank from which the said form is constructed is shown in Fig. and indicated by the reference numeral I3. This blank is rectangular in shape and has upper and lower edges [4 and I5 and lateral edges I3 and II. The blank |3 is provided with three longitudinally extending scores I9, and 2 [which are equally spaced from one another and from the edges l6 and II and which are parallel to said edges. These scores divide the blank into four panels 22, 23, 24 and 25. The score 2|] is constructed so that the re entrant angle of the bight 23 formed between the panels 23 and 24 is disposed on one side of the blank and the scores l9 and 2| are constructed so that the reentrant angles of the bights 2'! and I21 formed between the panels 22 and 23 and the panels 24 and 25 he on the opposite side of the blank. By means of this construction the panels may be folded up in accordion fashion as with the form l2 shown to the left of Fig. 3. Near the lowermost marginal portion of the blank I3 is punched a number of holes 28, 29, 38, 3|, 32, 34 and 35. The holes 28 and 23 are on panel 22, the holes 33 and 3| on panel 33, the holes 32 and 33 on panel 24, while the holes 34 and 35 are on panel 25. These holes are arranged in two horizontal rows, the holes 28, 3Q, 32 and 34 being in the upper row and the holes 29, 3|, 33 and 35 being in the lower row. The holes 28 and 29 and the holes 34 and 35 are the same distance from the edges l6 and H of the blank while the holes 30, 3|, 32 and 33 are the same distance from the score 20. When the panels of the form are folded together the holes in each row are brought into register. 7

In applying the form I2 to the drape the portion of the drape adjacent the bight 2? of the form is gathered into said bight and a wire stitch or staple directed through the holes 28, 23, 35 and 3|. This forms a bend 35 in the fabric of the drape received within the bight 2'! and panels 3'! and 38 lying along the panels 22 and 23 of the form I2. A fold 39 is thus formed in the material which is received between the panels 22 and 23. In a similar manner the material of the drape adjacent the bight |2'| formed between panels 24 and 25 is gathered into said bight to form bends 4D and 4| in the material at the locality of the scores 20 and 2| and panels 42 and 43 and overlying the panels 24 and 25. A fold 44 is thus formed in the material which is received within the bight |2'|. Another wire stitch or staple I2 is placed through the holes 32,33, 34 and 35 and through the material in between said holes thus holding the parts firmly in position. The disposition of the parts after attachment of the drape thereto is best shown in conjunction with the form indicated at |2 in Fig. 1.

In conjunction with the form |2 a clip 45 is employed. This clip is constructed of metal elongated in form and is provided with a channel 41 extending longitudinally thereof as indicated in Fig. 1. This channel forms a longitudinally extending recess 48 coextensive with the length of the clip. Th said channel, however, falls short of the lateral marginal'portions 49 and 55 of the clip which lie in a common plane. Formed in the channel 41 are four transverse slots 5|, 52, 53 and 54. The slots 52 and 53 extend completely across the channel and are of appreciable width while the slots 5| and 54 are narrower and extend only partly across said channel. The marginal portions 49 and adjacent the slots 52 and 53 are formed with depressions 55 which lie in continuation. of the lowermost portions of the said slots. In th center of the channel 41 are two openings 56 and 51 which serve a purpose to be presently described. These openings are arranged one above the other as best illustrated in Fig. 4.

After the form |2 has been attached to the drape the portions of the drape adjacent the edges Hi and ll of said form are wrapped about said form to provide bends 58 and 59 at said edges and to form panels 60 and 6| overlying the outer surfaces of the panels 22 and 25. This construction provides folds 62 and 33 receiving within them the panels 22 and 25. Where the panels 60 and 6| meet the portions of the form l2 located at the scores l9 and 2| are brought together and further bent as indicated at 54 and 65 to form folds 66 and El. These folds are received in the recess 48 of the clip 45. When in position pins 68 and 59 are passed through these folds and are received in the depressions 55. The pins 68 and 69 have bends [3 in the same which are normally arranged toward the drape and which facilitate insertion of the pins into the material at the folds 54 and 35. After insertion these pins are reversed to take the position shown in Fig. 3. When so disposed the material is drawn into the recess 48 and the head of the pin engaging the fabric of the drape or the clip 46 prevents rotation of the pin. Due to the resiliency of the fabric from which the drape is constructed and the resiliency of the form the pleats are formed by the folds 62, 42, and 53 which are drawn together as designated at 1B in Fig. 2 and which spread apart above and below said localities to give the pleat the desired appearance. Where the drape is constructed of heavy material the holes 52 and 53 are employed and the pins 68 and 59 inserted into said holes and rest on the fabric or on the marginal portions 49 and 5B of the clip 45 at the depressions 55. Where lighter material is used the holes 5| and 54 are employed and the pins rest on the edges of the channel 4'! formed by said holes.

For supporting the drape, hooks 7| are employed which may be of the customary construction and which are hooked into either of the holes 55 or 51 of each mounting and which are further hooked about the rod or supporting structure for the drape.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The drapes can be formed with French pleats in a fraction of the time heretofore employed. The forms and clips are simple to apply and can be fabricated at an economical cost. Whenever it becomes desirable the forms and clips may be quickly removed and the drape laundered in any desired fashion.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as hereindescribed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In drapery pleat construction, a drape, a form constructed from a sheet of bendable material having greater rigidity than the material of the drape and formed with spaced edges and bent alternately in opposite directions in accordion fashion along spaced lines extending generally in the same direction as said edges to form pairs of juxtaposed panels with reentrant angles therebetween facing forwardly of the drape and with said edges forming the lateral edges of the outer panels of the pairs of panels, said drape being folded at the bends of the form and having portions received within said reentrant angles and overlying the forward surfaces of said panels, a fastener extending through each of said portions of the drape received within said angles and through the pairs of panels of the form providing the angles in which said portions are received to bring said portions of the drape in overlying contacting position, said drape having other portions folded back over the lateral edges of the outer panels and upon the rearwardly facing surfaces of the outer panels and concealing said fasteners and having bends at the rearward portions of said outer panels extending rearwardly of the portions of the drape received within said reentrant angles and said form to provide outwardly facing'pleats in the drape and fastening means engaging said drape at said bends and holding the bends thereof in juxtaposition to envelope said form, said fasteners being disposed at a locality spaced from the upper end of the form to provide in the pleats gathers.

2. In drapery pleat construction, a drape, a form constructed from a sheet of bendable material having greater rigidity than the material of the drape and formed with spaced edges and bent alternately in opposite directions in accordion fashion along spaced lines extending generally in'the same direction as said edges to form pairs of juxtaposed panels with reentrant angles therebetween facing forwardly of the drape and with said edges forming the lateral edges of the outer panels of the pairs of panels, said drape being folded at the bends of the form and having portions received within said reentrant angles and overlying the forward surfaces of said panels, a fastener extending through each of said three equally spaced lines parallel with two of the edges of the sheet to form two pairs of juxtaposed panels with reentrant angles therebetween facing forwardly of the drape and with the deportions of the drape received within said angles I and through the pairs of panels of the form providing the angles in which said portions are received to bring said portions of the drape in overlying contacting position, said drape having other portions folded back over the lateral edges of the outer panels and upon the rearwardly facing surfaces of the outer panels and concealing said fasteners and having bends at the rearward portions of said outer panels extending rearwardly of the portions of the drape received within said reentrant angles and said form to provide outwardly facing pleats in the drape, a clip constructed of sheet material and overlying'the last named bends of the drape, said clip having a transverse slot therein extending across said bends and marginal portions outwardly therefrom, and a pin received in said slot and extenda ing through the portionsof the drape traversed by said slot and being free from said form, said pleats gathers.

noted edges of the sheet forming the lateral edges of the outer panels of the pairs of panels, said drape being folded at the bends of the form and having portions received Within said reentrant angles and overlying the forward surfaces of said panels, a'fastener extending through each of said portions of the drape received within said angles and through the pairs of panels of the form providing the angles in which said portions are received, to bring said portion of the drape in overlying contacting position, said drape having other portions folded back over the lateral edges of the outer panels and upon the rearwardly facing surfaces of the outer panels to conceal the fasteners and having bends at the rearward portions of the outer panels extending rearwardly of the portions of the drape received within said reentrant angles and said form to provide outwardly facing pleats in the drape and fastening means engaging said drape at said bends and free from said form and holding the bends thereof in juxtaposition to envelope the form, said fastener being disposed at a locality spaced from the upper end of the form to provide in the ALICE M. FREEMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 2,467 Great Britain of 1890 

